Saturday, April 26, 2008

How icici donated my gift and rewarded my loyalty

Imagine having an identity crisis. Imagine telling people to address you by your full name (first and last name atleast) and not by your last name only. Imagine a bank like icici addressing a letter to a "Mr. Kumar" instead of "Mr. Jayant Kumar". And imagine gathering reward points for 2 years and then the icici guys misdeliver the gift to some one else. That's what happened with me.

I will not be brief. I will elaborate each detail. I will let you know how i overlooked small issues from icici and how they finally made me believe that they cannot be trusted. Here is what happened.

Firstly a few months ago, i had asked for "Big baazar vouchers" in return of the reward points that i had. Well, after 15 days, when nothing happened, i mailed them and then i came to know that "Big baazar vouchers" was not in their stock now and so i would not be able to have them. My points were credited back (Thank god, they did not keep it). Then last month, i again saw the option of redeeming the reward points as "Big Baazar gift vouchers" and opted for it. I ordered gift vouchers worth 1600 points. I suppose it might amount to around 1000/- INR.

Again, when i did not get any response in 10 days time, i had the notion that again "Big Baazar Vouchers" might be out of stock and so i again mailed them. This time their response was like - the voucher has been dispatched on 31st march and received in my office on 2st april. And today was 12th. I got the office address confirmed from the icici guys and asked for the airway bill no. I was given the blue dart airway bill no and i contacted them. The delivery boy came over next day and handed me the receiving of the package. There was only 1 stamp of my office on the receiving and the name in front of it was "Mr. Kumar".

I was like "WTF!!!". How could my name be "Mr. kumar". There are so many "Mr. Kumars'" - similar to so many "Mr. Patels'", Mr. Shahs'", "Mr. Agarwals'", "Mr. Jains'".... How could you address a person by his last name only. Well, i contacted both Blue dart and icici to get clarification on my identity change. Then i got a call from the icici bank call center in chennai and some "Mr C.V.N.Bhoopal" called me up and told me that. 1. the packet was delivered to me at my office with stamp. 2. The name on the packet was "Mr. Kumar" which is a part of my name. I had a heated discussion with him on this, but this person was extremely rude and adamant. I would also say that he might be having a very low IQ. Since he was unable to understand the fact that unlike telephone numbers - names are not unique. And by taking away the first name, he could be addressing someone else than the person he wished to address. (I still remember, I had two "ankit shah"'s in my school and the only way to differentiate them was using their roll numbers or physical appreances). 3. And if i have not yet got the package, i should get in touch with the mailing room in my office. And then i told him that they changed the name on the package to "Mr. Kumar" and i am not "Mr. Kumar". I am "Mr. jayant kumar". At this point, he bought the blue dart office into conference and asked the lady smita, i believe to read the name. When she told the name was "Mr. Kumar", he again told that it might be due to space constraints, and before i could confirm the same from the lady, he disconnected the lady. And then this highly trained "Mr C.V.N.Bhoopal" started forcing me to listen to him. He would not listen to any reason or logic. All he would say is that "We delivered the package to your office with stamp. Now it is your duty to collect it." He would not listen to the fact that the package was not addressed to me. Maybe that is how icici trains their call center guys - so that they "do not" listen to logic and reason and are always "in your service".

That was the point when i went through all the links on different sites which would tell me how to take care of this situation. And after lots of reading i realized that. 1. ICICI wont listen to you. "Hum hai na..." means they would always be there - troubling you and reminding you that they are here. For them the client is nothing - cause they have so many - they dont care if a few go else where. 2. I came across cases where they have blocked bank accounts for some discrepency in credit card bills which was still to be resolved. 3. And cases where even after full payment of credit card, they entered the person's name as a defaulter - so that he could not avail further credit from any bank. 4. And ofcourse cases where rogues are sent to the peoples who have not paid "wrong" credit card bills. Just do a google on "icici credit card complaints" and you would see lots of such issues. I dont know which "code of ethics" do these icici guys follow. I believe there is one "Make money - dont give a damn for humanity" - the same that most thieves follow.

I again contacted the blue dart person and asked if they have changed my name on the package for space constraints. And they told me that they are not allowed to do that. And then it struck me - why would delivery guys tamper with the name on the package. What would they get out of it? - nothing And i got a mail from blue dart regarding this.==================================

Dear Sir,

Thank you for writing to us.

The clarification on the name part has to be sought between "icici bank"and "you".Bluedart has no role in making name changes/amendments.Pleasespeak with icici bank and clarify.

the icici guys called me this morning and we had a telecon with the bluedart personnel from where the package was sent(i think chennai).The blue dart girl - i think smita said that they had changed the namedue to space constraints.

Please clarify the same. Icici bank refuses to accept that they havechanged my name from "jayant Kumar" to "Mr. Kumar"

And then "Mr. C.V.N.Bhoopal" forwarded me the "terms and conditions" document which stated that "They are not responsible for packages lost within office premices". Even if the package was wrongly addressed (i added that).

The moral of the story is that

1. Dont trust banks. No matter how long and loyal have you been to them. They wont wait for a second in breaking your trust. 2. Never take loans and credit cards from the bank in which you have your savings account. So that in case of any confusion with credit bills and dues, your savings account is safe. 3. Dont expect anything from the government. The rbi does lay down some rules and regulations and also ensures that it is followed, but once you get entangled in them, it is a very long process. Avoid getting entangled unless you are in a bad situation.

I had 4 threads of mails to icici - 2 from my email account (a general thread and a level 3 complaint thread) and another 2 from icici's email account. And here is both of them. You would see that they try their best "Not" to admit their mistake and repeat themselves - sticking to their "terms and conditions". I have cleaned up all the junk that they send below their mails.

And the best part was, i got a call from icici regarding "Why i want to cancel my credit card?". When i told them that i was unsatisfied by their service, the call center guy asks me "What happened sir? Can i be of any assistance?"(quite sympathetically).

The gift has been delivered to my office, as i had written in my earlier mail also. But it was not addressed to me. It was addressed to "Mr Kumar" instead of "Mr Jayant Kumar" and was delivered to someone else in one of my 6 offices in noida.

How can a reputable bank like icici make a mistake in the name of a person? How can you put partial name on the letter and expect it to be delivered to the right person?

And after that i was shocked by the rude and adamant behaviour of the call center executive who called me. Instead of listening and solving the problem he was just trying to force himself on me.

Hence i have asked for the closure of my credit card which has been accepted via service request no sr63613321. I am supposed to get a confirmation on the cancellation by 29th April 08.

RegardsJayant- Hide quoted text -

On Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 5:42 PM, Ernstandyoung wrote:

Dear Mr. Kumar,

We understand your concern.

We have forwarded request to the department to check the status where the gift has been delivered.

Name: Jayant Kumar Product: Credit Card Account No: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Application No: E-mail address: jayant7k@gmail.com Mobile no: 98XXXXXXXX Telephone no: +91-- Service Request(SR) No: SR28942580 Details of complaint: I had asked for big baazar gift vouchers (item code SR0301) in return of my 1600 points. On 12th, after about 10-12 days of putting the request, when i did not receive the vouchers, i raised a query regarding the same. After this, i was given the Blue Dart AirWay bill no 390XXXXXXXX and told that the voucher was received by my office on 2nd april 08. When i contacted blue dart with this airway bill no, they gave me a receiving in which the package was sent to someone named "Mr Kumar". I confronted the blue dart guys regarding the change in name from "Jayant Kumar" to "Mr Kumar" and they told me that they have not changed the name. In fact they could not change the name on the package.

So, i wrote a mail to the bank regarding the wrong name on the package from the bank's side. And Mr C.V. N.Bhoopal from chennai called me. First of all he was adamant that the blue dart guys have changed the name on the package and then was totally uncooperative and rude.

My question is why would the blue dart guys change the name on the package. And it is difficult to track the package if it has been delivered to the wrong "Mr Kumar". There are 1500 person in noida spread among 6 offices. Out of which there are 35 "Mr Kumar".

Do you expect me to call all of them and ask for a letter which was addressed to them?

I know that the name in your records is "jayant jagatbandhu kumar". But the package was not addressed to me. It was addressed to "Mr Kumar". I have confirmed this from my office's mailing room. It has been delivered to some "Mr Kumar" in another office. And the person might have used the vouchers by now.

Such type of irresponsible is not acceptable from icici bank.

And Mr. Bhoopal, that is not the way you talk to me or any other customer.

Please cancel my credit card. I do not wish to continue using your credit cards.

Another unsatisfied customerJayant Kumar

-----Reply Separator-------Dear Customer,

We wish to conform that, your name in our records is JAYANT JAGAT BANDHU KUMAR. We request you reconfirm your decision of cancelation of the card.

I am not accepting your apology cause you have not yet understood my problem.

I know that my name in your records is "Jayant Jagat Bandhu Kumar".

But the package was delivered to "Mr Kumar" instead of me.

I am highly unsatisfied with your service and un-understanding behaviour.

I would not be picking up your calls because your call center executives are rude, adamant and abusive.

So, i do not wish to continue using your credit cards. Please close/cancel my credit card no XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX.

Another unsatisfied customer.Jayant

-----Reply Separator-------Dear customer,

We apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.

We confirm that your name in our records is JAYANT JAGAT BANDHU KUMAR and we inform you that the gift item redeemed was delivered at your office security desk.

We request you to contact your security desk for further assistance.

We wanted to speak with you on your mobile number 98XXXXXXXX to give you this information.

Sincerely,

Abhilash reddyAccount ManagerICICI Bank Limited

-----Original Message-----Subject: Credit Card

Hi,

I am highly unsatisfied by your call center personnel and their way of talking. They are rude and uncooperative.

First of all you change my name from "jayant kumar" to "kumar" so that my package is misdelivered. And then you deny taking any responsibility for it.

The Blue dart guys say that they have not changed the name. I have their receiving copy and i could see long names like "Dharampal Satyapal" on it. I think "jayant kumar" is shorter than that. And i dont think that a big company like blue dart would change the name/identity of the person just like that.

We have 1500 employees spread over 6 offices in noida. If the name has been changed, it could be with any "Mr Kumar" in any of the 6 offices in noida. It would be very difficult to track it.

I have not received the gift vouchers worth 1600/- points yet. Please deliver it to me or credit my 1600/- points back.

If you have not changed my name from "jayant kumar" to "kumar", can you give me some visual proof like photocopy of the package for it.

Once you have trained your staff for appropriate behavior, you can get in touch with me for issuing a new credit card.

Please cancel my credit card at once.

-Jayant Kumar

On Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 9:55 AM, ICICI Bank Customer Care wrote:

Dear Mr. Kumar,

For quicker resolution of your query, please write to us through the "Email us" option at www.icicibank.com

We focus considerable effort on training our staff to ensure high levels of service and we shall further strengthen our initiatives in this direction based on your feedback. We earnestly hope that the negative experience you had will not come in the way of your availing our facility.

The question is: "Was the package addressed to me?" And the answer is no. The package that you delivered was not addressed to me. It was addressed to some "Mr. Kumar" and NOT to "Mr Jayant Jagat Bandhu Kumar".

Yes, you have delivered the package to my office security desk with stamp. But the package was not addressed to me, so i have not received it.

I do not wish to continue this conversation further. I know you would not accept your mistake.

Please cancel my credit card. I do not wish to continue using your credit cards.

Another unsatisfied customer Jayant Kumar

On Sun, Apr 20, 2008 at 6:16 PM, ICICI Bank Customer Care wrote:

Dear Mr. Kumar,

We inform you that the gift item redeemed was delivered at your office security desk.

We request you to contact your security desk for further assistance.

We wanted to speak with you on your mobile number 98XXXXXXXX to give you this information.

For any further clarification, please contact us using the "Email Us" option on our website, www.icicibank.com.

1. I waited for 10 days for the product to be delivered. I contacted you first on 14th. 2. Yes you could guarantee delivery upto the inward delivery desk only - but the package should have the right name on top of it. 3. I am not cancelling the order, my order still has not been delivered. 4. Please give me the proof that you have delivered the package. I think that it has not been 45 days since my request of the gift. 5. I have not received the package so i am not sure if the contents are damaged or not.

2 comments:

2 weeks ago, i got a call from the mumbai branch of icici. A person with terrible english - i dont know how he got into their call center (maybe he had a jack - some relative with recommendation) was asking me whether i had written complaints about icici credit cards in blogs on the internet.

I said, "yes, but dont ask me what has happened - better read it for yourself and then call me back with a solution." Even before him asking "Sir, why what happened??". So the guy (confused after losing his dialogue) says - "ok i will do something about it".

That's it. It has been more than 2 weeks and there has been no more communication from them for this.

But their call center executives dont forget to call me for another "icici credit card"